Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Panacea released two sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles last Friday at Bald Point State Park at Alligator Point.

The turtles, named Joker and Amazon, came to the aquarium on March 31 and May 22 respectively. Both were dehydrated and emaciated when they came in, which was a result of a flotation issue that made it impossible for the turtles to dive down and hunt for food.

The crowd watches on as Amazon the loggerhead sea turtle is carried by FWC and Gulf Specimen staff down the beach for her release.(Photo: Keith Grumbly)

Although they came to Gulf Specimen in rough shape, Joker and Amazon both sprang back to life after their treatments began.

At the release, both seemed very eager to get back into the Gulf of Mexico based on how quickly they started crawling after being set down on the sand. Amazon was the first turtle to be released, and Joker followed soon after. A crowd of people gathered on either side of the turtles to watch them crawl down the sand and into the ocean, cheering them on the whole crawl and swim until they were out of sight.

Many of the people there had seen Joker and Amazon at the Marine Lab in the early stages of their rehabilitation and came to see how far they had come in their health. The exciting event was centered on the fact that these turtles got a second chance at life and got to go back home to the ocean where they belong.

Amazon gets close to the shore for the first time since her capture for rehabilitation. She was found floating in the surf off of Alligator Point on May 22nd, close to Bald Point State Park where she was released on Friday.(Photo: Keith Grumbly)

Amazon had so much flora and fauna growth on her shell that she was named after the Amazon rain forest. Gulf Specimen staff removed most of it, but the large barnacles remain because it would be unsafe to forcefully try to remove them.(Photo: Keith Grumbly)

Many thanks go out to everyone involved in the rehabilitation process - the success of this rehabilitation is in large part due to the generous support of the community.

If you want to contribute to the sea turtle rehabilitation efforts you can donate on the Marine Lab’s website (www.gulfspecimen.org) and plan a trip to the aquarium.

The tracks left behind by Joker as she headed to the water’s edge. If Joker turns out to be a female, the next time she will be on a beach will hopefully be to dig a nest and lay eggs.(Photo: Keith Grumbly)